How Much Does a Yacht Cost per Foot?

If you have ever thought seriously about the question ‘How much does a yacht cost per foot?’ you've probably noticed that the length of the yacht, or ‘price per foot’, determines almost the entire budget. It's not just the cost of purchase, but also the cost of berths, maintenance, insurance and even the amount of paint used - in short, for every foot the yacht grows, the cost goes up.

In the yacht market, hull length has always been the most important pricing benchmark for both new and used yachts, with 30 feet being the obvious turning point where not only does the price start to rise steeply, but the configuration and interior also move into the “luxury” category. The longer the yacht, the more space it has, and the more it costs to build.

Yachttrading has compiled a comprehensive price trend based on the world's leading trading platforms and actual sales data, to reveal the true face of the central question of how much does a yacht cost per foot.

How Much Does a New Yacht Cost per Foot?

A brand new yacht under 30 feet will average around $3,217 per foot. If you choose a premium yacht over 50 feet, the price per foot can easily exceed $14,000, or even $78,000 per foot for a luxury custom model.

Depending on the boat length range, the prices of brand new yachts are roughly as follows (in average)

15-19 feet: $30,000 average price, which translates to $1,765 per foot.

25-29 feet: average price $127,000, or $4,704 per foot

35-39 feet: average $371,000, cost per foot close to $10,000

50-60 feet: basically around $821,000, or $14,827/ft.

80-100 feet: $7,000,000, averaging a staggering $78,033 per foot.

How Much Does a Used Yacht Cost per Foot?

Used yachts are attractive options for buyers on a budget. Most used sailboats sell for 1/3 to 1/4 the price of a comparable new boat, but still offer good sailing performance and basic comfort.

For example, the average price of a used yacht is around $6,473 per foot for a 30-50 foot model, which is nearly half the price of a new boat. More specifically:

20-24 feet:: average price around $43,000, or $1,955 per foot

30-34 feet: about $4,250 per foot

50-60 feet, average price $555,000, corresponding to about $10,091 per foot

Used yachts over 80 feet, although at the higher end of the range, are still a much better deal than new boats, with an average price of around $36,889 per foot.

What Factors Affect the Cost of Buying a Yacht?

In addition to the captain, the configuration of the yacht, the brand of equipment, and the materials used in the interior will also have a direct impact on the price, especially for a brand new yacht. For each additional foot, in addition to the hull materials, the engine power, navigation equipment, and the luxury of the galley and bathrooms will also need to be considered. Because of this, the price per foot difference between different captains' zones is huge, and can even be more than five times different.

And in the second-hand market, the age of the boat is one of the key factors in determining the price. For example, a 25-year-old sailboat, even in the 30-foot class, can go for as little as $60,000, while a brand-new version of the same model can go for as much as $200,000.

For prospective owners who are still on the fence, chartering is also a great way to learn about yachting life. There are a number of quality charter service platforms on the market that allow you to enjoy the sailing experience of a quality sailing yacht at a reasonable price, which is an effective way to further determine if it's worthwhile to purchase a yacht.

Whether you're looking to buy a new boat, or planning to buy a more cost-effective used boat, ‘how ow much does a yacht cost per foot’ is the basis of your entire budget. Once you have selected a range of boat lengths, you will be able to more accurately estimate the initial investment and subsequent maintenance costs.

As a professional one-stop yacht service provider, Yachttrading platform provides full-process support from purchase consultation to transaction, transport, maintenance, etc. to help you start your sailing life more easily. If you still have questions about price, selection or charter, please feel free to contact our professional team.